THE beginning..

We left Williams Lake loaded for BEAR... literally..it was late in the evening when we started the trip west...the truck loaded with supplies and towing a borrowed 26 foot Princecraft cuddy cabin aluminum boat.Over the next several hours we encountered mule deer in phenominal numbers ..well over 300 before it even got dark, as well as the ocassional moose...fortunatly non in our path..
Just before the 1/2 way Ranch from out of the ditch came an imature grizzly bear, a true silvertip with a long luxurious flowing coat with no signs of rubbing.... he raced ahead mere meters from our front bumper every detail illuminated in the 4 Pia driving lights...What a magnificant creature...he dissapeared over the bank and through a hole he made on his way THROUGH the ranchers fence...

We stopped at the summit and filled one 150 liter cooler with some of the snow left ..in places 5 feet deep still..and proceeded slowly down the famous Bella Coola hill in 4x4 and low range taking some 1 hour and 25 minutes to reach the valley floor below.

As we pulled into the government boat launch the PIECE OF SH*T FROD just QUIT...Tim and I looked at each other and just couldnt believe it...so I crawled back into the boat and went to sleep, while Tim curled up in the truck and "Crashed"
A couple hours later we awoke to deal with the boat being 30 FEET from the ocean and NO WAY to start the truck...BUT we had brought a spare battery and some BOOSTER cables so we tried "Jumping the truck" IT STARTED !!!!! But only If we kept the battery cables connected..so Tim carried the spare battery while I backed the boat down the ramp..and we launched...loaded up the boat..started the GPS which I had preloaded with navigation points for the trip..and we began our oddessy....

For the next 31 miles we were constantly accompanied by scores of White sided Pacific dolphin frollicking in our bow wave and in our wake and off to both sides.. pleasant to see but however as we were to learn they have been disasterous on the local fish stocks...

It was exceptionally cold and the wind STILL had a bitter bite to it....but slowly and surely we rounded the corner into Kwatna bay and found a place to anchor our Cabin , set up camp, unpack and inflate the rubber raft. We went for a short walk and was amazed at the amount of food already present for the bears to dine on..skunk cabbage, fiddleheads ,grasses..all in abundance everywhere, however we also noticed the FRESH SNOW not all that far up the mountain sides and the deep deep deep snow just meters above the fresh snows dusting the trees perched prcariously on the steep cliffs above us.
We then broke out the brand new crab trap I had bought and proceded to assemble it and add marker buoy and rope and then we baited it with a salmon fillet I had also brought and we dropped the trap in 120 feet of water on the north side of the bay.
We then went for a walk and noted no evidence of bears...no poop..no half eaten plants no footpints nothing hmmmmmmm.
That nite I got quizzed by Tim on where all the bears were....I half heartedly told him we JUST got here we need to find them ( ADDING under my breath.."if they are out..it seems we may just be too early" )

The next morning we awoke and had a most exellent breakfast bacon eggs and tea..and off to check the crab trap.. there were 4 crabs and all were males and all were over the 165 siaze limit for Dungeness crabs so we boiled em up...and scarffed em down...YUMMMMMM Later we found out Tim had forgot the milk and the bread....and while we were out crabbing the ravens got the remaining eggs...GRRRRRR
We did some halibut fishing too many damn seals and porpoises..nadda...

That afternoon we walked up a trail to a lookout I knew that provided a vantage point for observing a "hidden " feeding area...after a while Tim excitedly announced he had spotted a GRIZZLY ...I found the animal in my binos and judged him to be a 7 1/2 foot typical trophy coastal brown bear..AKA grizzly..black nose and chocolate brown....while Tim looked him over I spotted a second bear further away..this one was maginificant..weel over 8 feet and having a light blond/brown snout he was heavy and had no rubbs , the first bear had a rub mark on his right rear flank.

So off the vantage point and away we went..only the second day and our FIRST stalk on a trophy GRIZZLY.Up the valley and over the slippery oozing mud left from the receding water as the tide left...

Slowly and carefully we closed the 500 plus yards ..untill... we hit the Kwatna river and it was too deep and too fast to cross...we were still 250 yards to the shooter.. close but no cigar..so after a bit of "oooohing and awwwwing " over the size color and such we slowly made our way back over the tidal flat to the trail..and off for the boat and sleep...ever cautious in the fastly fading light not to surprise any other bears that may be coming out to feed.

That nite Tim had many questions and comments on his first two bears...

I told Tim the "tomorrow you will get your Grizzly...I HAVE A PLAN.."

I recalled BCBUCKS comments in a EMAIL that "after all I HAD been a grizzly guide..we should do really well..talk about your pressure.....

Part DEUX...THE HUNT....

So on day 3 we got up wasted some time cooking more crabs and halibut fishing..or as I prefer to call it "washing the chrome off the jigs"

Then we got dressed and headed up the kwatna River by inflatable boat with a 9.9 Honda o/b..

We slowly went up about 4.5 kilometers never seeing much and no bear sign..however at a certain spot I pointed to a tree and said to Tim.."later we will come down to this downed tree and sneak up to it and thats where we will see your bear.."Tim seemed a bit doubtfull.......

Several times that day the loud crashing of snow slides rumbled down the mountain for hundreds of meters..the nightly fresh snow in the mountains tipping the delicate balance and creating new slides. It rained HARD every single day..for hours on end...

We got up to the airport and had a late lunch and slowly drifted down the Kwatna river..again freezing our assess off in the cold as we slowly drifted the river not moving not speaking.... constantly disecting each patch of trees or green grassess or sand banks for poop, bear prints or signs of freshh feeding by bears..nothing..

So mid afternoon we came around the corner and found the spot I had preiously mentioned to Tim we would stop and get his bear..I motioned to Tim to be very quiet as I tested the wind...perfect... a north wind as we silently beached the zodiac on the grassy bank I walked 10 feet over to the downed tree and peered over and INSTANTLY my eyes were drawn to a very large black object surrounded by greens..I raised my Binoculars as I crouched behind the tree and found myself looking at a HUGE BLACK GRIZZLY..MASSIVE..a mere 500 yards away..I slowly ducked down and whispered to Tim..." I found your bear " Tim snuck up took one look and asked.." IS HE A SHOOTER ????" I said "if you dont shoot him I WILL.." He's a shooter and a keeper..

So I scoped out a safe plan of attack and a path to shooting distance that would keep us down wind and hidden on the flat green grassy feeding area...and off we headed...

The first 100 yards we crouched and walked straight at the bear staying directly in line with a downed roots of another old fallen tree..figuring if we couldnt see the bear..he couldnt see us...after slowly making the 100 yards I peered through a small opening in the rootball and the bear was still feeding apparantly un a ware we were on the same planet..

Next we slid down into a old feeder stream that still held 2 feet of water and slowly we worked our way closer to the bear following the creek channel all the while bent over our chests near the slowly flowing water... we arrived at the place I felt would put us at 190 yards to the feeding behemoth..and with camo hood pulld up i slowly snuck a peek.....and bruino was STILL feeding ..so I said to Tim to sperate by 12 yards and when I motioned to slowly ease up over the bank and go 20 yards and get ready to fire..both of us had loaded weapons safteys on...

We both slowly..and I mean SLOOOOOOWLY eased up over the bank and crawled through the oozing much and grass the 20 yards and settled in..I said..go a head Tim shoot..

I waited crosshairs on the bears shoulders as he now slowly fed back towards the trees and to be swallowed up by vegetation and gone forever..

NOTHING...NOTHING NO SHOT !!!!!! I looked towards Tima nd he was mouthing the words THE GUN WONT SHOOT!!!!!!as he frantically worked the bolt repeatadly...I said " Tim if you cant or dont shoot him I will have to"

FINALLY Tim sorted the rifle out and motioned he was indeed ready to shoot as the bear was now mere yards from the tree line..I settled back into backup position..crosshairs on the bear..when BOOM Tims rifle went off and the bear just dropped..... I waited ready..when the bear struggled to pull himself to the saftey and darkness of the westcoast forest.. I heard Tim ask.." shall I shoot again.."??? My reply must have been load and clear because BOOM..Tim did shoot again and the bear was down and dead. !

We watched through the heaving hearts and pouring rain for movement..nothing so together as one we rose and headed slowly towards the downed bear..at 70 yards from the bear I decided to have some "fun..cruel but fun with Tim" I said Tim we made a bad mistake..He's ONLY 5 foot bear man you shot a cub...!!!!"Tim got a strange look on his face sort of like when the rifle wouldnt work and he replied...." YOU SAID HE WAS A SHOOTER YOU SAID HE WAS A KEEPER..".....I replied "sorry man I was WRONG.." As we continued our approach I could see the open eyes of death so I turned and said Tim congradulations you got your self a 8 1/2 FOOT GRIZZLY OR BIGGER..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Tim and I went to the bear..put our rifles near but safe and Time "attempted to raise the bears head..he could hardly budge the head.!!!I looked at the bears front pads...8" front pads = 9 FOOT BEAR.!!!Tim cancelled his tag and we took some photos and skinned the bear ..by then it was almost dark so we left Tims shirt there on a tree, the bear and the hide and headed back to the river floated down the river and powered home to camp..to have a shower and a meal and some ADVIL.. and to sleep.

Epilogue....

The next morning we awoke to..ya more rain...so we had our breakie and off we went in the zodiac accross the flats and back into the "orchard"..carefully glassing for other bears feeding on the carcass...while I did a quick necropsy Tim lashed the 150 pounds of hide ,hair and head to his pack board and prepared to stand up... only with considerable help could Tim stand and for the next 45 minutes between rests and encouragment we made our way back to the boat and then camp.

I sat under a tarp and started the long methodical careful job of splitting the lips, turning the ears splitting the nose and around the eyes and removing the paws...this was started at approx 11 am and I was finished by 5 pm..stiff and sore we went for a short hike and prepared for bed by 8:30..as the next morning was to be another up the river and check out another prime area I knew...

At around 11:30 I awoke to excruciating pain down my lower right leg..as I went to rub my leg I discovered I was completely numb from my knee to my toes.. ...I rubbed and moved and wiggled and got frightened that I had thrown a clot...however I had no coldness to the limb nor was it red nor was the pulses absent???? I took 2 aspirin incase it was a clot and by this Time Tim was up..we discussed a plan of action..nothing copuld be done tonite so back to bed.

In the morning my leg was still numb and sore so we decided I should go ask to use the sat phone (GLOBALSTAR ) on the shrip boat that had pulled in during the nite..the phone didnt work AS USUAL...

So it was decided to abandon the hunt and seek medical care for my leg..I with Tims help got some stuff loaded and then went to pull the remaining crab pot while Tim loaded the zodiac with the bear hide...while moving my camera bag with several $$$$$ long lenses and my spotting scope my numb leg suddenly just gave way causing me to lose my balance ..and yes you guessed it..ALL MY EXPENSIVE CAMERA GEAR AND SPOTTING SCOPE ended up over board in 700 feet of salt water.. ..hey its only $4,500....

Soon I had landed another 8 crabs all keepers and Tim had come aboard and we headed north to Bella Coola arriving some 4 hours later as a HUGE WIND AND RAIN STORM hit with waves in the 12 FEET SIZE.. man did we time thatw ell or what. I called for an AMBULANCE dispatch recognized my name and voice and soon Paramedics were on scene and I was wisked away to the hospital where I recieved very good treatment..and the results...that having my legs bent under me for so many hours had compromised my circulation I had "compartment syndrome" potentially I could lose my leg !!

I contacted Lake City Ford with my truck problems..NO HELP..Ford canada told me.."MR RUPP please dont get emotional life is TOUGH get over it.." ass$#^#&! So with BCAA'S help my truck was put on a flat deck FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 2 WEEKS and the borrowed boat was towed behind the tow truck..not bad for $1200 for towing alone!!!!

Then the CO showed up a VERY NICE AND PROFESSIONAL GENTLEMAN who had heard Tim talking with the KOREAN owner of the hotel about the grizzly gall bladder...2+2= 22 so the CO came to talk and was assured the gall was indeed still under the liver and where the bear was..I ALWAYS cut the gall sack spilling the contents BUT LEAVING the sack still attatched to the liver.

Tims young daughter arrived and we headed home to Williams Lake spotting numerous black bears en route.
At home we found out the tow truck had driven SO HARD it had knocked a set of bunk roller OFF the borrowed boat trailer..$$$$$$$ I am putting a claim in with ICBC against the tow company.

I showered and went to the hospital where the diagnosos by 2 surgeons was again Compartment syndrome and I could indeed lose my leg.So for the past 3 days I have been lounging around paying bills..

The insurance company said I should be covered for the camera and spotting scope...

i get $60 back from the tow bill fro Canadian Direct insurance...yipeee

Bcaa roadside was EXELLENT and they will cover "most" of the tow bill.

I am filing tomorrow for the damage to the boat.....

I have Tims completely boiled and cleaned , bleached grizzly skull here in my den ALREADY..THANK YOU JASON YOCHMAN..

I am waiting to see howmy leg goes..I may just get back into Kwatna..ya right after I pay $656 to Ford for a newly installed alternator..

So sports fans..I PROMISED Tim if he ever got a grizzly tag Id be ther right beside him and together we got her done..

That I submit is Grizzly hunting...a lot went wrong however the hunting part that went GREAT.

Steven Rupp

Congrats on your hunt..Really enjoyed the read.....Except for the truck problems....grin

CAMERA GEAR AND SPOTTING SCOPE ended up over board in 700 feet of salt water.. ..hey its only $4,500....


Now that BAD! Looks like the hunt was AWESOME! Very nice bear and advencher you two had..

Good call.Kinda forgot about the glass going into the drink..

thanks guys...insurance covered the gear.. ya they EVEN cover stupidity.. ..leg not so good...but another adventure of a life time..I still recall the perfect stalk...

Steven

Sorry to hear your leg is still bothering you.

Do the Dr.'s feel your legs healing.I know nothing about your injury or compartment syd thus the DUMB question..

Its IF I can keep my leg..its actually that bad..nerve damage is permement and affects circulation..

But what a trip, what a bear..

Steven

Despite your trials you still seem upbeat and poitive that's gotta help! At least you had a great day today! Fabulous bear too.

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I think about hunting too much

G'day Srupp,
that was a bloody great read. Thanks.
Rod